A staff of the commission who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity said the prime suspect had appealed to the deceased not to go ahead with his plans, adding that it was his refusal that necessitated his actions.

He said the officer was struggling with his mobile phone with the deceased when the other colleague joined and held him on the neck until he gave up.

He said, “Emeka is one of the officers privileged to be working on a report on a corruption case to be sent to the headquarters in Benin.

“As he was about going to deliver the report, his oga called him back, insisting he shouldn’t go. But he refused.

“His oga dragged him with his phone while another officer joined him. He was struggling with them over the phone when they strangled him to death.”